© Don Getty
News from the Arctic (2025.02)
Controversial Arctic Ice Project shuts down
AN ENVIRONMENTAL WIN
The Arctic Ice Project, a US-based initiative, has officially shut down, citing environmental risks. The project had proposed spreading synthetic silica-based microspheres on Arctic ice to slow melting, focusing on areas near communities that rely on ice and routes where melting ice flows into the wider ocean. But it faced heavy criticism from Indigenous communities and climate justice groups for potentially causing ecological harm and delaying more permanent climate solutions.
Opponents argued that geoengineering projects like this one pose risks to ecosystems and communities while failing to address the root causes of climate change. The shutdown follows similar failures of other geoengineering experiments, reinforcing the de facto global moratorium on geoengineering reaffirmed at the 2024 UN Biodiversity Conference in Colombia.
Advocacy groups say this decision highlights the power of community-led resistance and the growing rejection of speculative climate interventions. They urge governments to focus on phasing out fossil fuels rather than investing in risky technological fixes.
© Brais Lorenzo via hive.panda.org
Melting sea ice reshaping regional weather patterns
A WORLDWIDE INFLUENCE
The Arctic may be trying to tell us something.
Drier weather and worsening droughts in the southwestern United States and wetter conditions in Spain and Portugal are linked to disappearing ice in the Arctic, according to a study published in Nature by researchers from the Barcelona Institute for Global Health.
The study found that changing weather patterns in North America and Europe are the result of disruptions in air currents caused by the loss of Arctic ice. These disruptions are altering storm tracks and precipitation patterns.
Previous studies often examined long-term climate trends or added extra heat sources to models, making it harder to isolate the effects of Arctic ice loss. This study took a different approach: researchers compared past Arctic ice levels with a scenario where ice was significantly reduced, without introducing artificial factors. By running two sets of simulations, they could pinpoint how ice loss alone affects atmospheric patterns. Their findings suggest that melting sea ice disrupts jet streams and ocean currents, ultimately reshaping global climate conditions.
The researchers caution that the Arctic is only one piece of the puzzle. Climate is also shaped by interconnected factors, including greenhouse gas emissions, ocean currents, vegetation changes and Antarctic ice loss.
Nordic Council launches Arctic Resilience Programme
AN INITIATIVE TO STRENGTHEN COMMUNITIES
This winter, the Nordic Council of Ministers launched an Arctic programme aimed at strengthening local communities facing social, economic and environmental challenges. The initiative will allocate €4 million over three years to enhance resilience in Arctic regions.
Unveiled in late January ahead of the Arctic Frontiers conference in Tromsø, Norway, the programme reflects the Council’s long-standing commitment to Arctic affairs. It will support community engagement, sustainable economic growth, and environmental initiatives to help Arctic communities adapt to changing conditions.
Youth engagement will be a key focus. To that end, an Arctic Youth Conference took place from January 24 to 26. The council views young people’s voices as essential in shaping the Arctic’s future.
The Nordic Council represents Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and the autonomous regions of Greenland, the Faroe Islands and Åland.
© Michael Tjernström via imaggeo.egu.eu. CC BY-ND 3.0
Melting Arctic ice threatens vital microorganisms
AN IMPOSSIBLE PACE OF CHANGE
A new University of Exeter study has found that microscopic organisms living under Arctic sea ice are at risk of extinction as the ice melts. These specialist species, uniquely adapted to the harsh Arctic environment, cannot survive exposure to ultraviolet light and competition from more common microorganisms.
While most species have some capacity to adapt, the swift timescale of climate change in the Arctic could make it difficult or impossible for these microorganisms to endure, according to one of the study’s lead scientists.
Their loss could destabilize marine food webs because these tiny organisms form the foundation of ocean ecosystems. If they disappear, species that rely on them for food may also decline, affecting biodiversity and potentially influencing marine food chains, with possible downstream effects on seafood resources. While there’s no immediate solution, reducing carbon emissions remains the most effective way to slow ice loss and protect Arctic ecosystems.
By WWF Global Arctic Programme
